Major Texas Grocery Chains Say No to Open Carry

Texas’ homegrown grocery chain, H-E-B, announced it will forbid the open carry of firearms in their 316 stores when the law changes later this week. The San Antonio based grocery retailer joins other grocers in banning customers who choose to openly carry handguns. Randall’s and Whole Foods have made similar moves.

On Friday, Texas law will change to allow holders of a Concealed Handgun License to openly carry handguns that are secured by belt or shoulder holsters.

Businesses may elect to opt-out of the open carry law, as H-E-B is doing, by placing what are known as 30.07 signs at all entrances to the store or business. The sign must be of a certain size, have contrasting block letters, and must contain specific wording, both in English and Spanish.

Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly.

The placement of 30.07 signs still allows customers the ability to protect themselves by carrying concealed. To prohibit concealed carry, a store or business owner must place a 30.06 sign at the entrances to the business.

Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by holder of license to carry a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (concealed handgun law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun.

If the store or business owner wishes to ban both concealed and open carry of handguns, both signs must be displayed.

The San Antonio based H-E-B joins another Texas major retailer in prohibiting open carry. The state’s top hamburger retailer, Whataburger, announced they would prohibit openly carried handguns from their stores, shortly after the legislation was signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Breitbart Texas reported.

“Whataburger supports customers’ Second Amendment rights and we respect your group’s position,” said Whataburger President and CEO Preston Atkinson in a July written statement obtained by Breitbart Texas, “but we haven’t allowed the open carry of firearms in our restaurants for a long time. It’s a business decision we made a long time ago and have stood by, and I think it’s important you know why.”

The giant burger chain, also based in San Antonio, said it will continue to allow concealed carry.

H-E-B made no public statement, according to a Forbes magazine report. Other grocery retailers, Whole Foods and Randalls have also posted 30.07 signage in their stores.

Kroger appears to be taking a different tack from its competitors. The nation’s largest grocery retailer said it will honor local laws regarding open carry despite a massive attack from Michael Bloomberg and Moms Demand Action, Forbes reported.

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and is a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter@BobPriceBBTX.